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Improving the Affordability of Anticancer Medicines Demands Evidence-Based Policy Solutions

  • Nora Franzen
  • , Giorgia Romagnoli
  • , Andreas Ziegler
  • , Valesca P. Retèl
  • , Theo J.S. Offerman
  • , Wim H. van Harten

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The high cost of many new anticancer medicines significantly impedes breakthrough discoveries from reaching patients. A commonly heard refrain is that high prices are necessary to compensate for the high costs of research and development (R&D). Yet, there are promising policy proposals aimed at improving affordability without compromising innovation. In seeking new policy solutions, we argue for a shift away from entrenched opinion toward an evidence-based discourse that is grounded in experiments and real-world pilot studies. We offer a novel perspective and practical recommendations on how empirical evidence could and should be gath-ered to inform evidence-based policy interventions that lead to sustainable medicine prices in oncology.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)299-302
JournalCancer discovery
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2022
Externally publishedYes

Funding

N. Franzen reports grants from a philanthropist (unrestricted) during the conduct of the study. G. Romagnoli reports having recently coauthored a paper on incentivizing mindfulness meditation practices for better mental health. This project, completely outside of the scope of the project under publication, was funded by a Dutch insurance company, Zilveren Kruis Zorgverzekeringen N.V., based on a research partnership between Zilveren Kruis and G. Romagnoli’s coauthors on the project at Duke University (the funding was used to hire a research assistant and pay the experimental subjects). G. Romagnoli did not receive financial compensation for this work, and G. Romagnoli’s relationship with Zilveren Kruis has since concluded. V.P. Retèl reports grants from a philanthropist (unrestricted) during the conduct of the study, as well as grants from Intuitive B.V. outside the submitted work. W.H. van Harten reports grants from a private sponsorship during the conduct of the study; grants from Organisation of European Cancer Institutes outside the submitted work; and is Chair, Working Group Health Economics, OECI, and CEO Rijnstate General Hospital, Arnhem, the Netherlands. No disclosures were reported by the other authors.

Funders
Dutch insurance company
Zilveren Kruis Zorgverzekeringen N.V.
Duke University

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